Sydney, Aug 9 (ANI): Australian player Steve Smith has said that he has always thought of himself as more of a batter than a bowler and in the last two years, he had started working more on his batting than bowling.

According to The Daily Telegraph, Smith acknowledges his bowling has 'gone backwards,' although, he proved at Lord's where he took three wickets, that he can still bowl the occasional handy over without the pressure of being the frontline spinner.

In his initial years, Smith was expected to take on the mantle of experienced spinner Shane Warne but he has clearly not lived up to that promise.

Even in Smith's two Tests as a specialist spinner in England in 2010 against Pakistan, his performance, including a 71 in the second Test, suggested his future at the top level was wielding the willow, not tweaking the leather, the report said.

Earlier this year, Smith was one of the bits and pieces all-rounders taken to India as part of an oddly unbalanced squad and once again, his batting eclipsed his bowling as he compiled a career best 92 at Mohali, the report added. (ANI)